LIVINGSTONE’S LAST JOURNEY. 
219 
took a turn, and when he sank into a deep elephant’s footprint he 
required two to lift him so as to gain a footing on the level, which 
was over waist deep. Others went on and bent down the grass so 
as to insure some footing on the side of the elephant’s path. Every 
ten or twelve paces brought us to a clear stream, flowing fast in its 
own channel, while over all a strong current came bodily through 
all the rushes and aquatic plants. 
''It took us a full hour and a half for all to cross over. We 
had to hasten on the building of sheds after crossing the second 
rivulet, as rain threatened us. At four in the afternoon it came on 
pouring cold rain, when we were all under cover. We are anxious 
about food. The lake is near, but we are not sure of provisions. 
Our progress is distressingly slow. Wet, wet, wet, sloppy weather 
truly, and no observations, except that the land near the lake being 
very level, the rivers spread out into broad friths and sponges.” 
ACROSS THE CHAMBEZE AT LAST! 
Thus, wet, sick, and weary, often short of food and doubtful 
of his way, the indomitable hero still struggled on, his courage 
sustained by his hope of yet reaching the Chambeze, rounding the 
lake, and passing the confluence of the Lualaba on the west; his 
heart cheered by the ever-increasing love of his men, especially of 
the seven already mentioned, who vied with each other in their 
eagerness to carry their dear master, to build the tent for his recep¬ 
tion, to save for him the best of the provisions they were able to 
procure. 
The whole of February and the first half of the ensuing month 
were consumed in wandering backwards and forwards amongst 
the swamps of the north-east shores of Bangweolo, but about the 
20 th of March the camp was at last pitched on the left bank of the 
Chambeze, close to its entry of the lake, and the question of its con¬ 
nection with the Lualaba was to some extent solved. Late in March 
canoes were actually obtained, and, embarking in them, our explorer 
and his men paddled across the intervening swamps to the Cham¬ 
beze, crossed a river flowing into it, and then the main stream itself, 
losing one slave girl by drowning in the process. 
